David Crockett State Park to Hold Anniversary Event May 26

Friday, May 25, 2012 | 07:10am

Celebration Will Help Commemorate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. – The year 2012 marks Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary, and to help commemorate this important milestone, David Crockett State Park will hold a special community Field Day and Birthday Party on Saturday, May 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is open to the public.

The day will kick off at 2 p.m. with a special presentation on the 75 years of Tennessee State Parks, given by State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath. This program will be held downstairs in the David Crockett State Park restaurant.

Immediately following the special history recap, activities will move outside for several family-friendly “field” activities including games popular from the 1930s. Musical entertainment will be provided, and the park is offering an open mic opportunity for park visitors who want to showcase their own singing voices.

In celebration of the Tennessee State Parks’ 75 years and David Crockett State Park’s own 53rd birthday, cake and ice cream will be provided by the Friends of David Crockett State Park.

“David Crockett State Park is proud of its heritage and proud to be a great neighbor to the surrounding communities,” said Park Manager Henry Phillips. “We are very excited to celebrate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary this year and to have this opportunity to share the park system’s unique history. This event will also be an opportunity to thank the Friends of David Crockett and the entire local community for all their hard work and support of this wonderful park. We hope you can join us on Saturday.”

The Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937, and those laws – with modifications and additions over the years – remain the framework for park operations today. As in most states, Tennessee began in cooperation with federal programs that instigated individual parks. Later, Depression era recovery programs gave a boost to the idea and the possibility of creating parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration worked on land conservation, but also delved further into the actual planning and construction of what would become the first of 54 Tennessee State Parks.

Today, there is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee. A 2009 University of Tennessee study highlights the positive economic impacts that state parks provide local communities, particularly in rural areas of the state. The study found that for every dollar spent on trips to Tennessee State Parks, an additional $1.11 of economic activity was generated throughout the state. When the direct and indirect expenditures were combined, the impact of Tennessee State Parks to the state’s economy was $1.5 billion in total industry output, supporting more than 18,600 jobs.

Tennessee's 54 state parks and 82 state natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free at 1-888-867-2757. For upcoming events in connection with the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, please visit the state parks website at www.tnstateparks.com.

To help commemorate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary milestone, the department has launched an innovative new microsite with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development at www.tnvacation.com, honoring the rich heritage of Tennessee State Parks and showcasing the outdoor adventures available at park sites today. Among many great features, the microsite highlights a wide range of richly-illustrated content that will help plan your next park visit, an interactive timeline that stretches all the way back to the beginning of Tennessee State Parks to the most current events, and a fun Junior Ranger game.

David Crockett State Park is located at 1400 West Gaines, just off of Highway 64, one half-mile west of Lawrenceburg. David Crockett was a pioneer, soldier, politician and industrialist born near Limestone, Tenn. in 1786. He moved to Lawrence County in 1817 and served as a justice of the peace, a colonel of the militia and as a state representative. Along the banks of Shoal Creek, he established a diversified industry consisting of a powdermill, gristmill and distillery – losing all three operations to a flood in 1821. Financial difficulties from these losses prompted Crockett to move to West Tennessee, where he was elected to Congress. Crockett died at the Alamo Mission in March 1836, while aiding the Texans in their fight for independence from Mexico. For additional information about the park, including directions, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/DavidCrockettSP. For more information about Saturday’s event, please contact Rachel Bridges at (931) 762-9408 or at Rachel.bridges@tn.gov.